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An Act To Prohibit Mandatory Binding Arbitration
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 14 MRSA §5927,  as enacted by PL 1967, c. 430, is amended to read:
§ 5927. Validity of arbitration agreement
A written agreement to submit any existing controversy to arbitration or a provision in a written contract to submit to arbitration any controversy thereafter arising between the parties is valid, enforceable and irrevocable, save upon such grounds as exist at law or in equity for the revocation of any contractmust be optional. This chapter also applies to arbitration agreements between employers and employees or between their respective representatives, unless otherwise provided in the agreement. This section does not apply to an agreement to arbitrate under Title 26, section 951.
Sec. 2. 14 MRSA §5928,  as enacted by PL 1967, c. 430, is repealed.
Sec. 3. 14 MRSA §5938, sub-§1, ¶E,  as enacted by PL 1967, c. 430, is amended to read:
 
E.  There was no arbitration agreement and the issue was not adversely determined in proceedings under section 5928 and the party did not participate in the arbitration hearing without raising the objection; or
Sec. 4. 14 MRSA §5945, sub-§1, ¶A,  as enacted by PL 1967, c. 430, is repealed.
Sec. 5. 14 MRSA §5945, sub-§1, ¶B,  as enacted by PL 1967, c. 430, is repealed.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires agreements to submit to arbitration to be optional, except for collective bargaining agreements.